Forres Mechanics end with nine-men and an outfielder in goals in 3-0 derby defeat to Rothes

There was plenty of derby day drama at Mosset Park on the opening day of the Highland League season.

Nine-man Forres Mechanics were beaten 3-0 at home by Moray rivals Rothes, with the Can-Cans ending the match with central defender Ryan McRitchie playing in goals.

The Speysiders’ goals scored by Greg Morrison, Jake Thomson and Owen Alexander.

Morrison gave Rothes the lead after 32 minutes before Kyle MacLeod was sent off on his Can-Cans debut before half-time - a decision Forres manager Steven MacDonald labelled “appalling”.

Thomson added a second for Rothes in the 56th minute, before Forres keeper Corey Patterson was sent off for handball 30 yards from goal.

With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, centre-back Ryan McRitchie played the remaining half hour in goal and only conceded once more when Alexander added a third in the 85th minute.

Forres’ next match is away to Turriff United - who were beaten 5-0 today by Brora Rangers - on Saturday.

Buckie Thistle - due to open their league campaign against Nairn County - were in League Cup action and helped knock Celtic legend Scott Brown’s Ayr United side out.

Ayr needed to beat the Jags by three goals at Somerset Park and had a 2-0 lead before half-time. Buckie, though, fought back to 2-2 through Josh Peters and Jack MacIver goals, before losing 3-2. The result means Ayr United go out on goal difference.

Moray’s other two sides - Lossiemouth and Keith - were both at home on opening day, and were both defeated.

Keith led at half-time against last season’s league runners-up Brechin City, but went onto lose 3-1, while Lossiemouth lost 2-0 to Clachnacuddin thanks to two first half goals.

Brora Rangers and Huntly are joint-top of the table after one matchday, having both won 5-0. While Brora thrashed Turriff, Huntly were big winners against last season’s bottom side Strathspey Thistle.

Deveronvale played nearly the entirity of their clash against Inverurie Loco Works with a man advantage after Nathan Meres’ seventh-minute red card, but were still beaten 2-0 at home.

Banks o’ Dee, who have invested heavily over summer, won one of the day’s most interesting ties 2-0 at Formartine United, while the shock result of the afternoon came up in Wick, where Academy were 2-0 winners over Fraserburgh.